TRACK: Senior Spotlight: Cara Jahn, Caney Creek

Caney Creek track runner Cara Jahn will be continuing her education at Texas A& after gradution.

Caney Creek track runner Cara Jahn will be continuing her education at Texas A& after gradution.

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Caney Creek track runner Cara Jahn will be continuing her education at Texas A& after gradution.

Caney Creek track runner Cara Jahn will be continuing her education at Texas A& after gradution.

Photo: Submitted

TRACK: Senior Spotlight: Cara Jahn, Caney Creek

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While high school athletics are put on hold during the coronavirus outbreak, our sports staff has created a daily installment called “Senior Spotlight,” which aims to honor some of the local senior athletes whose seasons have been interrupted. Here is our question-and-answer spotlight with Cara Jahn, who runs the 200-meter dash and 4x200- and 4x400-meter relays for the Caney Creek track team:

Question: When did you get interested in the sport? Was there somebody that introduced it to you?

Jahn: I started in seventh grade, and I was pretty good at it, so I stuck with it. My older brother ran track and was good at it. so I thought I’d give it a try, and both of my parents ran track when they were in school.

Q: What is your favorite part of your sport?

Jahn: Seeing our hard work and practices paying off by winning our events.

Q: What is your greatest memory from your childhood with the sport?

Jahn: I only started running track in seventh grade, but my favorite/most embarrassing memory from junior high track was when I tripped over a hurdle in the 100-meter hurdle race and busted my face into the track, but I got up and finished the race and didn’t even finish last.

Q: What is your greatest memory in high school with the sport?

Jahn: When we qualified for Texas Relays for the first time in Caney Creek history. Being a part of such an amazing team that works so hard that we beat the school record in the 4x200 relay, then continued to push harder, and we even broke our own record that same year. Basically, I feel so lucky to have my team and for us to have been so successful and advance as far as we have.

Jahn: My track coach, Coach (Stephen) Meine. My freshman year, he saw something in me that I wasn’t able to see yet, and he pushed me to try harder and do better, and he is the sole reason for who I am today. He supported me when I needed support, but was tough on me when I needed that also. This year, I was lucky enough to have him as my math teacher, and our bond has grown even stronger. I know that without him, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today. I wouldn’t be as successful as I am in both track or in the classroom.

Q: After a hard day of practice or after a game, what is your go-to food or drink to replenish and why?

Jahn: Ice-cold water to cool me down because it’s hot after running so much.

Q: What athlete do you want to meet and why?

Jahn: Usain Bolt. He is the greatest sprinter of all-time, and I watched his documentary on Netflix, and he just seems like such a kind heart and hard worker that is so inspiring. I would love to meet him.

Q: Who’s the most famous athlete you have met, and what was the experience like?

Jahn: J.J. Watt. I grew up in a huge football-loving family, and our favorite team is the Texans. One year, we went to J.J. Watt softball game charity event, and we were in the front row, and he came over and talked to us and took selfies. I had always watched him on the screen, and seeing him in real life and talking to him was surreal and so inspiring.

Q: What are your plans for after college? Will you continue playing your sport? What do you plan on studying?

Jahn: Go to Texas A&M and major in kinesiology. l got a few offers from colleges around Texas to run for them, but I decided that I just want to go to Texas A&M and study to become a sports physical therapist so that I can help athletes recover when they get hurt.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10-15 years?

Jahn: Married, living in a nice home and financially stable being a sports physical therapist, helping athletes get back to doing what they love after an injury.